Liquid crystals are a special type of substance which don’t have a real state such as solid or liquid. They are a hybrid combination of both. You never would have thought that you may be interacting with liquid crystals very often, like the one on your smartphone or the TV screen. However, these marvelous liquids also have many other uses that are not even related to images on the screen. From improving the visual quality of doctors while scanning inside our bodies to even helping our skincare products to be more effective, liquid crystals are doing an array of amazing jobs all around us.
In this article, we are going to examine the various uses liquid crystals in real life.
What is Liquid Crystal?
A liquid crystal is a special material that can be imagined as being in both liquid and solid states at the same time. Unlike solids, they do not behave rigidly, yet they can flow like liquids. They are highly preferred in screens [like] your phone or TV because of their ability to control the way light passes through them when current flows through them. They can also be used in medical services, optics, and cosmetics because they can react to things like temperature and pressure.
What are Applications of Liquid Crystal?
There are the following applications of Liquid Crystal:
Display Technology
Liquid crystals are represented on the screens of electronic items such as mobile phones, televisions, and computers. They are the ones that make us view some images or text on the screens to read. Here’s how it works: if you inject electricity into the liquid crystal display, it distorts shape and makes light pass through in separate forms. This therefore leads to pictures and words that we represent through the screen. Thus, when you check your messages or watch a video, know that you are touching/ viewing through liquid crystals.
Medical Imaging
Generally, doctors use liquid crystals to have a better vision of our bodies. Crushed crystal devices along with sensors are tools used in temperature detection methods like thermography that detect temperature changes in the body. The process allows doctors to detect tumors, inflammation, or other disease areas. Liquid crystals enable medical images to be clearer and simpler to understand, therefore any diagnosis or treatment of illnesses would be easier.
Skincare Products
Creams, lotions, and other skincare products contain liquid crystals as well. They ensure the performance of these products by ensuring that the ingredients that work deep in the skin get penetrated fast. Liquid crystals, for instance, can provide skincare products with different textures, making them feel softer and finer as we are applying them. Thus, in skincare routine of moisturizing and applying sunscreen, there is a high probability that liquid crystals will help you out.
Optical Devices
Liquid crystals are often utilized in the creation of optical devices like lenses and filters. They manipulate light by using a liquid crystal that can alter light transmission. This aids in things such as improving camera lenses’ accuracy and the luminance of the projector. The liquid crystal makes them more flexible and precise, which makes them used in different applications.
Cosmetics
Liquid crystals are also common in the cosmetic industry! They help smooth and improve the looks of textures in cosmetics. Liquid crystal formulations can lend makeup a silkier and more silky texture, thus providing more fun and real-time pleasure while applying the makeup. Furthermore, they can aid in keeping the makeup look in place longer, providing that fresh look throughout the day.
Conclusion
Liquid crystals play the role of the silent actors in various technology such as notebooks and photo displays that we use every day. They are no longer just meant for the screens; they are playing a vital role in medicine and skincare products. It might be an app on our phone or a reading a blood test in the hospital, the liquid crystals quietly make things work better.
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FAQs on Applications of Liquid Crystal
What are liquid crystals?
Liquid crystals are unique substances that can be referred to as “in-between” liquid and solid states. They combine some of the features of liquids such as fluidity, and properties of solids like structure.
Why is liquid crystals used in displays?
Liquid crystal is used in the screens because it can adapt the shape accordingly when electricity is applied to it. This alteration in shape has control over how light passes, giving us the movie and text we see on screens.
Is the use of liquid crystals in medical industry safe?
Yes, that liquid crystals are harmless for medical applications. For example, X-rays are frequently employed in procedures such as thermography to improve the visibility of the body’s inside, thus the discovery of things such as tumors or inflammation.
Would liquid crystals could be found in skincare products?
Absolutely, Liquid crystals, which are important for skin care products, make skin texture smoother and help active ingredients penetrate the skin deeper. They give a product a softer tactile sensation which makes it feel better when used.
Do all devices display images, texts, and video using LCD (liquid crystal displays)?
No, the majority of available devices do not utilize liquid crystals. However, they are used in apps frequently on the screens of devices, but e.g. e-ink displays in e-readers, differ in technologies.
In what way are liquid crystals responsible for the improved quality of the images on screens?
Liquid crystals in panels account for much of the image quality on screens. This ease with which light prevails around them contributes to the sharp and bright images with an alluring sense of color.